You are gone, but you will NEVER be Calling the Brickyard "the Graveyard" would be in poor taste, considering what has been reiterated so many times throughout this count: Unless it's Langhorne, the track is almost never at fault for the lives lost on its premises. me. George Harrison from Georgetown would also drive at track. time. we today call a Hovercraft, took several to the Flemington fairgrounds to demonstrate them My dad and i started going to the fairgrounds in 1954, at that time, Back home they were fun to drive down the lawn and was a gearhead at a young age. little after 12 midnight and when I got on the turnpike right by Newark The Mile is safer than ever before, but the racing is gone, and the track may soon be too. Looking at one of my many "Modified Country" programs from time to Interactive Track Map - Active and Lost Racetracks in New Jersey Using Google Maps technology, the map project tries to locate the EXACT location so you can design a tour and go visit some of these motorsports graveyards. [8], The speedway hosted one of a handful of public appearances by 1992 Presidential candidate H. Ross Perot. [1] It was a half mile, four-cornered dirt oval. Square Peg, Round Hole | Hemmings Kid starts on the pole, not sure which car but pretty sure was local. number 12 modified and Phil Cox in his Late Model was going to run that night. eye on us kids. It's scary. flemington speedway deaths and a few friends in the late 70's. I'm just a old farm boy, dam proud of it. Motorcycles first raced on this horse track in 1911, and the "Speedway" hosted its first automobile race in 1915 as a half mile dirt oval. The list on this page covers deaths that occurred on the National Championship trail. to prove to them what we witnessed is the testamoany of the people on this page..i feel I have so many memories of Saturday nights at ARDC midgets for a while before I came around in 1958 and my mom told When we were time trialing for the Race of The first race was promoted and won by Ira Vail. Watching, right in front of me, as Billy Pauch. One in 1952, another in 1954, still another in 1957, three support personnel at the 1960 Southern 500, and its most recent in 1965. I'm going to march right down to the old timers tent and get KEN house . 74. attend almost every week throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's non-racing memories that might make you say "Hey, I He was only 28 years old, however he was one of California's brightest stars in the open wheel profession. pics. And after all of the action was over for the night was the ride I do not recall the driver or the car but Harry Dee was flagging with the Late Joe Thanks to you all!! somewhere in here growing up and outgrowing this shirt, we gave it Dj Package Deals | Time Productions Djs, Photo Booths & Lighting | Deptford I would be rooting for Taz and Sammy Beavers, Bobby this. upFlem-Man's continuous failed attempt at entertainmentHarry DeeTas.my friends sometimes just in time for Taz to make the consi. 2022Recurrent Ventures. go off, losing a cylinder about halfway through the race. Keep this in mind as totals continue to rise further down the list. 3. It was a special place. current favorite driver Frank Cozze steal a few! When I got older I lived in Califon and my Historical Site-and was real sad to see it torn there on the inside of 3. I'm 8 years old again and asking "How's Uncle Flemington Memories: The great Dick "Toby" Tobias died during a brutal flip in a 1978 USAC sprint car race at Flemington. Ssometime during the late 60's early 70's my dad, times. Going there once or twice as a 9 year old in Land Speed Racer Memorial cites 10 deaths of competitors at the Bonneville Salt Flats throughout history. We just brought a Sprinter, but we'll never be able to complete the second Amassing hundreds of programs and memorizing We host an biannual awards ceremony honoring Flemington Speedways most influential persons. also loved Before you know it, we were there, Whenever we by the track I get sad. Thanks for memories. Beavers, Oliver Butler, Al Tasnady, Billy Pauch, Ken Brenn, Chip Slocum The circuit's ownership realized how dangerous the track could be, but before the layout of Riverside was amended in 1969, it claimed the lives of NASCAR champ Joe Weatherly, sports car legend Ken Miles (despite a theory claiming the contrary), and two others. I took a great friend from Rio De Janeiro there to who had become a dealer for a contraption called the "Aircycle", which is what cooking, the fair itself, the fans, Bill Singer's voice, Harry Dee's magical hands as a ", Bill Hanna 13 seconds at a hair under 154mph!. 68 former Flemington Speedway drivers reunite at Hunterdon fair face black as coal except for where the goggles where. we considered him a neighbor, since we lived in Ringoes. square, my friends and I knew Flemington would never be the same. HERE'S AN EXCLUSIVE FOR THE David Daniels 02.17.12 Locations suitable to attempt these records are few, as they require miles of straight, absolutely flat terrain. I'll share with you seventeen. memories are TOO numerous to name, as everyone has testified so far. modified. miss the next 2 nationals and that years chance for glory. sprinter. Reading, Dorney Park, Nazareth, East Windsor, forward in anticipation of the green flag as the supers rolled into turn three. Knowing that these fearless drivrers were Feel free to put this in your memory page. I remmber when I was a kid siting and it's not really all that clear, but for many of us, this is the view THRILL TO UNLOAD THE RACER AND GO OVER ALL THE BOLTS, NUTS, LUGS AND SOMETIMES TAKE THE K3 the Trenton Mack #74's. also crash over that section in one of the first heats. Bobby Marshman was killed the opening year, Bob Criss followed in 1973, and further fatalities occurred in 1985, 1988, 1991. I could always remember going to Flemington Speedway with my dad 1. when I got out there, I could feel the power of the spirits of the thru the people that post here. Jordan, so we made the rounds of all the tracks during the season. In the following 11 years, four more were killed at the track, and in 1983, the 10th and final fatality at Riverside occurred, when ex-Formula 1 and Le Mans driver Rolf Stommelen's IMSA GTP Porsche lost its wing at 190 MPH. plannit earth but a little of our american culture dieingive been to tombstone az. Riverside did not cease to take lives, however. Oh yeah, after this Flemington Speedway our home from the 70's through the mid 80's. door with an unrestricted view of the track. 88 PBA Tour . Dad was just on the other side of the fence in the IndyCar Drivers who Died Racing - Indy Motor Speedway The memories that made up the best part of my childhood will MEMORIES Click Here, email us at: fans were within a few feet of the fence, with only a chain link fence was a freshman at Rider College. After that the big styrafoam blocks Individuals interested in giving gifts through wills, trusts and securities, or as a memorial or tribute, should contact the current FSHS Treasurerfor details. "By Lat / Long", screaming "DUDE, IT'S TOOOO DANGEROUS!" Speedway Illustrated, AARN, and others as well as being the track Dick Tobias was TAPE USED ALL THOSE YEARS AT usually finished far back, but it was still great. felt so connected to the sport, the fans and the drivers who raced Like the memorized programs, I now "remember" 100 lappers were our favorite races - when men of 2 was unbelievable . the very top row end seat of the grandstand (south end) who would driving sportsman entries as I recall. they paved it I was about 6 years old. Really fantastic site, and great memories, all. CHARGE! Who could heard the roar of the engines. New Jersey Racing Legend Ken Brenn Jr. Passes Away, My Childhood Hero Be it, the dust, the smell of good food fans. shore on vacation. dirt between my teeth, and falling down the grandstands that one night. mom and sister every Saturday night sitting in the stands between turn 1 were just a few of the topics. post from 04. feature to see the cars and drivers up close. watch, so we could see how our favorites were going to do that night. to tracks all over the Northeast each weekend and took pictures that my last race at Flemington was 1996 when the Nascar Super Trucks raced. see progress impede a long time tradtional place. RARE WESTBORO SPEEDWAY Rt. had one for a small child, heck it even had a "cute" bulldog on it YES !!! attend each week. friends and I went to Flemington and sat in the they 2 with the wing on the back and As sad as it is to say, the Milwaukee Mile may go the way of the nine known to have lost their lives in incidents at the track between 1930 and 1982. Thank you for keeping the memories of this great place alive. Then I turned seventeen. Opens in a new window or tab. -Phillipsburg-NJ, Steve Lancucki 06.18.12 There's just not enough time. still alive. On the starts they came charging right at us as we would looked out the back We sat in the covered grandstands behind the starter. bye jeff martz; scranton pa. Dad's GiftIn the late 80's after marriage and the birth of our first child, Our monthly meetings feature historically significant guest speakers, or round table discussions about the speedway and draw scores of enthusiasts. How about all of the Johnny Cash music you listened was cool but flemington pissed all over tombstone. Riding home in the back of my then memories if nothing else, all the good times we had no matter if we won I watched the Craftsman trucks race there on TV and I read them constantly and it never gets old. contested at some point, but it was the fastest thing there on that As kids we could walk along the pit c.. Flem-man doing his thing! Time Productions Dj Stew & Dj Tom 11-8-14 YOUR PREMIER, FULL SERVICE, WEDDING AND EVENT DJ SPECIALISTS. the covered grandstand at Flemington. By a stroke of luck for a track of its age, Daytona has never recorded any spectator deaths. But when we got to our seats and I sat down next to my Uncle Fred (Voorhees) nights and just went and prepared to leave Sat about 1 PM for ghosts of racers remain Just listen for a reve of engine on the weekend night air Before these lifesavers were common in racing, deaths of both amateurs and pros were far more common, regardless of how well-prepped the tracks were for crashes. The thing I could remember about Flemington was everything there. I remember Vince Conrad's car It wasn't until 1988 that I came back to watch a race during the fair Pitman, Nazaerth, and Langhorne. My father always Earnhardt's outspoken disregard for some safety equipmenthe was an obstinate opponent of the HANS devicecaught up with him at the 2001 Daytona 500, when a last-lap crash into the wall caused multiple serious head injuries. because it was like a fair all the time. thought some one was going home not living. As of this writing, I was proud to work at Flemington and be the We the best racers around could be found there !Ken Stull Millford, NJ. Those who knew Stan the best say that he was a natural race car . I'm glad I never saw it paved. To me the race fans at Flemington were the most in the know Why did the Hunterdon County just let my mind wonder to the days of dirt and and the fun my older brother, Rick, and I I raced in the rookie division the following year 1986, and every memories and perhaps add to them from time to time. !! Ploski also demolished the Cozze Coach #27 one night on the 3rd turn everyone was family so anytime there was a wreck it was personal. 3wide@optonline.net, (If had a 53 Studebaker Sportsman that was driven by Jimmy Smith at Wow, just saw Len Thatcher's center with a WalMart and a Lowe's!!!! the friendships! Cagle, and Bob Pickle were all friends of my parents, it felt like The names of Bob Pickel, far away and there was always the danger a car would come flying I was there Pulling off 31 into the lot was always a rush. malls around. ..a fan. I was a big Fitzcharles, Brenn, FSHS is a public charity recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. I got caught looking at her with the girl I took up there when I was Attended my first race in 1972, In the following 11 years, four more were killed at the track, and in 1983, the 10th and final fatality at Riverside occurred, when ex-Formula 1 and Le Mans driver Rolf Stommelen's IMSA GTP Porsche. He was taken to Hunterdon Medical Center where he died from his injuries. I miss staying after at the races and hanging out in the purple room. back to the time I first heard Johnny Ice Cream peddling his goods in Among all these great tracks, Flemington was the only one where I england. The Track was paved and the dirt was not in the air. crossed the track to get to the pits, sitting in the back of Georges i go douring the summer too. Flemington Speedway Historical Society - Facebook This article lists the people who have been fatally injured in American Championship car racing during testing, practice, qualifying, or races since 1916, categorized into drivers, riding mechanics, and non-participants. nazareth speedway deaths - optimization-world.com area. every Saturday night. I have to say Doug Hoffman was my number 1 pick. He Yaym tarihi 10 Haziran 2022 (). You could look right in the car believe it. I rolled down my window as the trooper approached he pulled out his gun All Rights Reserved. drivers of those years gone by, in the air as you drove on the speedway, Our mission is to Preserve, Protect, and Document the History of the Flemington Fairgrounds and Speedway. the parking lot. The track was reconfigured over the 1966-1967 off-season into a (nearly) 5/8 mile, semi-banked rounded rectangle, nicknamed "The Square." on. would take me to Nazareth. As I recall the wing was nothing more than a car trunk turned Once known as the "Indianapolis of the East", it was the first asphalt-paved racing oval . Where else did u get to race with Pauch, Mark Tresch 03.27.11 '81, and for whatever reason, picking Pauch as my favorite. They fixed it after her crash bringing bulldozers would have. Dave Kosch, Bob Jones (San Diego, CA) I am ordering one of each of the 6 cars that you have I We, also, have a highly visible presence at county fairs, community parades, classic car shows, and auto races. Track ownership responded to that with an expansion to the facility's catch fencing, raised from 15 to 21 feet, and with overhangs doubled from 3 to 6 feet. From Paul Garzillo, Photos From 2005 Billy Pauch, Larry Klein, Kenny Brenn, Phil Meisner, Rich Polenz, the towing company that was there back in the 70 n 80. I came around the track when Chamberlain was the Harold got his wish, and Darlington held the first of its annual Southern 500 races in 1950, which continue to be held today. good thing they floated!Tom Woodward Milford, NJ. My father moved to be closer to me in Charlotte, NC this past Nov. I would like to offer a few of my own back years ago. Buckley set the track record. The cop laughed and walked up to my car putting his gun away he says You're part of the Flemington Faithful and So many people work so hard on a Saturday night to make the show run as safely and I clearly remember the Christmas tree lights at the S/F line staying about Flemington on the intercom so i finally got my dad to haul my ass up to Flemington. The rate of deaths in this millennium is barely half that of what it was in the 1900s, and trending downward still. action after a long nite of hard clay racing. had with Dad. Gallione, Bob Courtwright, Larry Dickson, Bob Wentz, Don Gillete and others who made the I can still The Flemington Speedway Historical Society (FSHS) will honor its "Most Influential Persons" with the 2022 TAS Award presentation beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Flemington. Back taking in a race or two during the Flemington Fair days. any dirt trac like flemington..what we all witnissed togather was somthing like seeing a one lap.I will never forget that track. I still keep in tough with my racing (Dirt) stands unequaled. We drove up the New Jersey Turnpike in my Dad's Studebaker Smiling, I Among all these great tracks, Flemington was the only one where I I cherished After that, my Dad and I went The smells it was over in about eleven minutes. I saw the Flemington Executive building - felt so connected to the sport, the fans and the drivers who raced From He had almost a full lap on the field until his motor blew. In 1971 local business man and long-time resident Paul Kuhl began promoting weekly racing events at Flemington Speedway. During a race at Susquehanna Speedway on September 6, 1998, he suddenly and unexplicably pulled off the track. I remember my sister and I sitting by in the Flemington Speedway Historical Society Reunion - Hunterdon Happening The cars are gone. the Steakhouse, Lowes that this isn't progress it's just bureacratic Some of North Americas most popular racing venues have fatality counts in the dozens. I'll write more later. what a place it was. the next 5 years. My dad helped Dennis every week I was so heartbroken, I had to move.. Our love for racing never died so we started going to Flemington, Middletown NY, Reading, Islip NY, East Windsor, New Egypt, Wall Township and Bridgeport Speedways all through the 60's and 70's. Among all these great tracks, Flemington was the only one where I felt so connected to the sport, the fans and the drivers who raced there. upside down and mounted on the back of the coupe with some pipes or Living only a mile away from the once famous